Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board was established on 27th February 1982 in pursuance of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (Central Act 6 of 1974) of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It was named in its present form in 1983 and has functioned under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974.The TNPCB has its headquarters in Chennai and is assisted by eight zonal offices and 38 district offices.
The board is headed by the Chairman, and the Joint Chief Environmental Engineers administer the zonal offices, while the District Environmental Engineers manage the district offices.
Besides, Assistant Environmental Engineers are in charge of three AEE offices. To effectively monitor, TNPCB also runs five flying squads in Chennai, Erode, Salem, Tiruppur, and Vellore headed by environmental engineers. At Credible Corporate Services, we assist businesses in navigating the TNPCB regulations, ensuring full compliance with environmental laws.
Reduce source pollution through technical advancement, financial viability, and environmental sensitivity.
Formulate standards for waste disposal and regulate the gaseous emission.
Find proper locations for new industrial applications to minimize pollution.
Implement regulations to improve the ecology of the state and environment.
Maximize the recycling and reuse of commercial and wastewater discharge for agricultural and industrial purposes so that operational costs and water use can be minimized.
Minimize waste disposal into water bodies to avoid water pollution.
Ensure safe reuse, recycling, and disposal of hazardous waste through policies.
Encourage and facilitate research on pollution issues to develop efficient solutions.
Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board performs a number of essential functions. The same includes working with the Central Pollution Control Board for organizing mass education programs and also for imparting training to the people involved or desirous of becoming involved in activities directed towards prevention, control, or reduction of water and air pollution.
Regulated areas of air pollution monitoring to assess the quality of air by taking all necessary actions to control or reduce pollution.
Investigating industrial plants, manufacturing processes, and devices controlling or reducing pollution, advising ways to prevent, control, or reduce air pollution.
Effectiveness of wastewater and trade effluent treatment plants - assessment of plans and specifications to take corrective measures.
Establishing, amending, or annually revising regulations on sewage and commercial waste treatment and pollutants emissions from industrial plants and vehicles.
Advice to the state government on how the water and air pollution can be reduced, including prevention, control, and mitigation measures.
Collection and examination of trade effluent samples, sewage samples, and atmospheric emissions samples against specific standards.
Collecting and spreading information on water and air pollution and encouraging ways to prevent, control, or reduce them.
Execution of miscellaneous work assigned by Central or State Pollution Control Board.
Thus, with all these responsibilities, the TNPCB ensures a major portion of reduction of pollution along with protecting the environment of Tamil Nadu.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change classifies industries into categories to control their activities and impacts on the environment. This classification system includes Red, Orange, Green, and White categories and helps in the selection of suitable locations for businesses, facilitates permission processes, inspections, and oversight. It is based on the size of the industry and the consumption of resources. Each industrial sector is assigned a Pollutant Index (Pl), a number between 0 and 100. A higher Pl value indicates a greater pollution burden from that sector.
The following categories are based on the Pollutant Index, which was developed after consultations between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and MoEFCC:
Industries with a Pl of 60 or higher. These industries produce a high level of pollution and release toxic pollutants and effluents. They are not allowed in ecologically sensitive or protected areas.
Industries with a Pl between 41 and 59. These industries produce significant pollution, though it is less severe than that of Red category industries.
Industries with a Pl between 21 and 40. Such industries are mildly polluting but their emission is not hazardous.
Industries with a Pl of 20 or below. These are least polluting industries. The White category of industries does not need a Consent to Establish (CTE) or No Objection Certificate (NOC).
In addition to categorization of industries on the basis of pollution, TNPCB further classifies an industry as Large, Medium or Small, based on the gross fixed assets. This makes the management and monitoring of the board even more precise and smooth for these industries.
District-Level Consent Clearance Committee (DLCCC)
This committee is authorized to give Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) for all Small Orange category units and all sizes of Green category units.
Zonal Level Consent Clearance Committee (ZLCCC)
The ZLCCC deals with CTE and CTO approvals for Small Red, Medium, and Large Orange category units.
Consent Clearance Committee (CCC)
This committee issues CTE and CTO for all Large and Medium Red category units.
Technical Sub-Committee (TSC)
The TSC grants CTE and CTO to Large and Medium Red category units. The TSC is concerned with the technical aspects of pollution control.
Pollution Load Assessment Committee (PLAC)
This committee assesses the pollution load when an existing industry expands, modernizes, or alters its product mix.
District Co-ordination Committee (DCC)
The DCC acts against polluting or illegal units at the district level.
How to Apply for a CTE/CTO?
To apply for a CTE or CTO, industries need to use the Online Consent Management and Monitoring System (OCMMS). This is an online platform where businesses can submit their applications for the required consent without much hassle.
The TNPCB approves new industries in two stages:
Consent to Establish (CTE) is issued before construction begins, based on site availability and compliance with environmental guidelines.
Consent to Operate (CTO) is granted once the industry has implemented the necessary pollution control measures and meets the required standards.
TNPCB field officials regularly inspect industries to ensure their compliance with effluent treatment and emission control regulations.
Consent to Establish (CTE):
All new development and industrial projects under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 require obtaining "Consent to Establish," also known as a No Objection Certificate (NOC), from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) before any construction or setup takes place.
Consent to Operate (CTO):
Following the same Acts, all operational units-including those beginning their operations with an NOC-are compelled to get the "Consent to Operate" (CTO) issued by the TNPCB, with the objective that the industry has to function and operate only if it satisfies all the norms as well as controls for pollution under respective standards.
The process for obtaining Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) in Tamil Nadu is guided by the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and Section 5 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Projects, industries, and other non-industrial units will be subject to the classification evolved by the TNPCB, which has classified industries under the Red, Orange, Green, and White categories depending on their pollution potential.
Need to have Consent to Establish before construction work starts.
Need to have Consent to Operate after they fulfill the required environmental and pollution control norms.
For existing industries, Consent to Establish is not mandatory, but they will have to obtain Consent to Operate.
Consult us for professional help.
The necessary documents for the Consent process will be submitted.
A dedicated consultant will assist you through the process and will handle the entire process with the TNPCB.
The expert will draft and file your application with TNPCB.
Once approved, your CTE/CTO will be delivered through email and courier.
For any queries, you can contact our team to start the process of obtaining the required pollution control certifications for your business.
Cover request letter stating the project, industry, and activities.
Proof of site possession (sale deed, lease deed, etc.).
Memorandum of Articles or Registered Partnership Deed (if applicable).
Plans detailing process equipment, utilities, effluent treatment plant and waste storage location.
Topography showing sensitive areas in a radius of 1 km (water bodies, roads, residential etc).
Process details and flow sheet for every product.
Water and Effluent balance data.
Land use classification certificates issued by CMDA, DTCP or LPA.
Auditor's certificate showing detail break-up of Gross Fixed Assets.
Groundwater approval in case the industry proposes to abstract ground water.
Proposal for Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with design details (if applicable).
Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) proposal with design details (if applicable).
Air Pollution Control (APC) measures proposal (if applicable).
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for hazardous substances.
Risk assessment and emergency plans (if hazardous chemicals exceed threshold limit).
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and clearance (if applicable).
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance (if applicable).
File for renewal 60 days before the expiry of the current CTE.
No change in location, production process, raw materials, and wastewater/effluent quantity.
Submit self-certification of no change in environmental parameters.
In case of applicability, extend the Environmental Clearance (EC) prior to renewal.
Auto-renewal is applicable in case the industry is not situated in an Eco-Sensitive Zone or a heavily polluted area.
CTE renewal is valid for three years. A review is conducted.
Connect with Credible Corporate Services for a seamless process dealing with documentation and application for TNPCB Consent/NO License. Ensure smooth compliance with environmental regulations! Reach out to Credible Corporate Services for expert guidance on obtaining and renewing your Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO).